Phillies top Rockies

Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Howard hit a solo home run among his three hits as the Philadelphia Phillies took down the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Wednesday.

Severino Gonzalez (2-1) allowed a run on five hits in five innings. Gonzalez, who was making a spot start in place of the injured Chad Billingsley, threw 45 of his 65 pitches for strikes.

"He did a nice job. For a young kid, really handled the conditions well," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg.

Gonzalez did not allow a baserunner until the fourth inning, when Charlie Blackmon led off with a single to center. Blackmon stole second and scored on Carlos Gonzalez's RBI single, but that run only got the Rockies within 4-1.

Tuesday's hero Nick Hundley added a second run with an RBI groundout in the seventh inning. Then the back end of Philadelphia's bullpen did its job.

Ken Giles faced the minimum in the eighth inning and Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in the ninth to record his 11th save of the season in as many tries.

Philadelphia did all of its damage against Eddie Butler (2-5) in the first and third innings, pushing two runs across in each to account for its four runs.

Chase Utley and Howard hit consecutive two-out singles to extend the first inning for Maikel Franco, who grounded back to Butler and reached on his throwing error. Utley scored on that play, and Howard came around when Jeff Francoeur followed with a single to left.

"As crazy as it sounds, a play in the first inning, that was a pivotal play," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of the error. "Even though it was the first inning, it was a big play."

Howard's solo homer to center in the third inning made it 3-0, and Odubel Herrera followed Francoeur's two-bagger with an RBI single to left.

Butler dropped his fourth straight start this month. He was charged with all four runs -- two earned -- on six hits in just three innings of work.

Game Notes

Philadelphia is 7-1 in its last eight games ... Earlier, the Rockies recalled outfielder Brandon Barnes from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned outfielder Drew Stubbs to Albuquerque.